Eighty-two years ago, a fledgling marine-engine company that would eventually become Mercury Marine is born when E. Carl Kiekhaefer purchases a bankrupt manufacturing company – including hundreds of flawed outboard engines – in tiny Cedarburg, Wisconsin. The rest, as they say, is history...
This year Mercury celebrates the 82nd anniversary of that historic date for the marine industry.
1939
On January 22, E. "Carl" Kiekhaefer purchases the bankrupt Cedarburg Manufacturing Company, manufacturer of Thor Outboards.
1940
The Mercury brand is introduced at the New York Boat Show. The company's engine lineup includes five engine models simply named K1, K2, K3, K4 and K5.
1946
The Corium Farms barn, still filled with 90 tons of hay - becomes repurposed as the new Fond du Lac production plant of Kiekhaefer Marine. The new facility reused many existing elements including grain silos used for spray painting, test cells and housing air compressors.
1947
Mercury-powered boats take the first five places in the Albany-New York race, thus setting a trend for Mercury as a formidable competitor in the races.
1947
The 10 hp Mercury Lightning, the world's most advanced outboard, is introduced at the New York Boat Show, featuring the most horsepower per pound and most horsepower per dollar ever.
Carl Kiekhaefer owned a NASCAR® race team. Over the course of two years, his drivers won a combined 52 races and won the NASCAR Grand National championship both years.
1956
The Mercury Mark 75, the industry's first six-cylinder outboard engine, is introduced. At 60 hp, it's the most powerful and most fuel-efficient outboard in the industry.
1957
The two-cylinder, 10 hp Mercury Mark 10 incorporates such outboard firsts as "Jet Prop Exhaust," underwater exhaust through the propeller hub, and slanted lower-unit design to help eliminate snarling on vegetation.
1961
Kiekhaefer Corporation is purchased by Brunswick Corporation on August 1, 1961.
1961
MerCruiser is introduced with the first production sterndrive propulsion system over 100 hp.
1962
The world's first 100 hp outboard, the Mercury 1000, is introduced. It's the first outboard painted "Phantom Black."
1962
All Mercury engines are offered in Phantom Black paint, which becomes synonymous with engineering excellence.
1967
MerCathode corrosion protection is introduced. It's the most advanced anti-corrosion protection available.
1973
Mercury officially forms its High Performance division to promote the company's presence in racing.
1974
Plant 98 begins casting steel propellers.
1976
The V-6 1750 "Black Max" is introduced. The first V-6 outboard is the most advanced, most fuel-efficient high-horsepower outboard anywhere.
Carl Kiekhaefer resigned as President of Kiekhaefer Mercury in 1969, and the name was changed to Mercury Marine. During this time, Mercury produced snowmobiles, like many other companies in the late 1960s. The first ones incorporated a 250 cc two-man chainsaw engine.
1987
Mercury brings Electronic Fuel Injection to the boating industry with the introduction of the Mercury Laser XRi and Mariner Magnum EFI.
1994
Mercury introduces a new 225 hp outboard. The 3.0 litre block makes the 225 the lightest, most compact engine in its class.
1995
Mercury and Mariner introduce their first four-stroke outboards, in 9.9 hp and 50 hp configurations. The engines are noted for their smooth, quiet operation, fuel efficiency, low maintenance and reduced emissions.
1996
The OptiMax DFI two-stroke outboard is introduced, astounding the marine industry and providing greatly improved fuel economy, smoother running and a reduction in hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions despite great speed and torque.
1997
The Mercury OptiMax second generation of low-emissions, direct-fuel-injection outboard is unveiled at the 24 Hours of Rouen endurance race in France. The two OptiMax-powered entries finish ahead of all competing brands.
2002
Mercury OptiMax outboards set world speed records in all Pro Stock bass boat horsepower categories.
2004
Mercury introduces Verado, the first supercharged production engine. The revolutionary Verado establishes new outboard standards with awesome power, tremendous hole shot, remarkably low sound levels and an unmatched driving experience.
2005
The OptiMax ProXS outboard is introduced and is an immediate success on bass fishing circuits. Mercury engineers leveraged the Mercury Racing heritage to develop a family of high-performance direct-fuel-injected outboards that blow away the competition when it comes to power, durability, performance and fuel efficiency.
2007
Mercury launches the Zeus pod drive system with joystick piloting.
2007
Introduction of X7 high-strength steel alloy used on new Enertia prop line.
2008
MerCruiser introduces a full product line of Emissions Control Technology sterndrive engines.
2008
Mercury MerCruiser introduces Axius Joystick Control for sterndrives.
2008
Mercury Racing introduces the Verado 350 SCi outboard.
2011
The Mercury 150 FourStroke is launched at the Genoa (Italy) Boat Show. It's the toughest, most compact and lightest 150 hp four-stroke engine in the world.
2013
Mercury introduces Joystick Piloting for Outboards.
2014
Mercury builds its 75,000th Verado outboard engine. The famed supercharged L6 Verado – introduced in 2004 – was designed and built at Mercury headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
2014
New 75hp, 90hp and 115hp FourStroke outboards are introduced, providing a reliable, durable and efficient platform of outboards for multiple uses.
2014
Mercury Propellers casts the 2.5 millionth propeller in its famed investment-casting facility. The durability and efficiency of Mercury propellers means they show up on various engine brands around the world.
2014
Mercury introduces its marine-specific 4.5L sterndrive engine package that is completely designed, developed and built by MerCruiser at Mercury headquarters.
2015
Active Trim, the first and only GPS-based automatic trim system, improves performance, increases fuel economy and makes boating easier. Active Trim is awarded as the Sustainable Product of the Year in 2018.
2015
The smooth and quiet L6 350hp Verado becomes the most powerful engine in Mercury’s legendary class-leading Verado family.
2016
The Fury 4 propeller is introduced, then rapidly becomes one of Mercury’s most popular propeller lines, particularly in the speed-based bass segment.
2016
Mercury embarks on a two-year program of significant investment in technology and infrastructure to successfully enhance its manufacturing capabilities and new-product development.
2016
VesselView Mobile is launched, expanding Mercury’s ecosystem of controls, rigging and displays that extends beyond engines to deliver aesthetically pleasing, technologically advanced and user-friendly prop-to-helm solutions.
2016
The fast and light 115hp Pro XS FourStroke is the first outboard that combines the class-leading performance of Pro XS with FourStroke technology.
2017
Mercury Marine introduces its ambidextrous tiller handle assembly for 15/20hp portable outboard motors, which then collects a win at the 2018 IBEX innovation awards.
2018
Mercury and Mercury Racing introduce a total of 27 new engines during the largest product launch in the company’s history. The V8 and V6 outboards in the Verado, Pro XS, FourStroke, SeaPro and Racing families range from 175hp to 300hp, wowing the global outboard market.
2019
Mercury Racing in June 2019 unveiled the 450R outboard. Steeped in Mercury Racing DNA, the 450R features a 4.6-liter V8 four stroke powerhead boosted by an exclusive supercharger design to produce 450 peak propshaft horsepower and 40 percent higher torque than the powerful 400R.
2019
Building on the time tested and popular inline 6 supercharged outboard engine platform, Mercury developed its highest horsepower Verado branded engine. The company introduced the 400hp Verado at the Miami International Boat Show on Feb. 14, 2019. The engine provides boaters the features and benefits they have come to expect from this platform and the Verado brand, while providing the increased horsepower necessary to meet their performance expectations.
2020
Mercury in August 2020 introduced a new twist on its Bravo drive to address the needs of the burgeoning wakesurfing, wakeboarding and tow sports markets. The Bravo Four S forward facing drive with Smart Tow controls crafts perfectly customized wakes for these sports, allowing users to dial in the desired launch acceleration, towing speed and wake characteristics.